From: Ada Maxwell Date: November 19, 2025 Subject: Biology Department Newsletter - November
Almost Thanksgiving Break!
Hi Scientists!
First off, I want to thank everyone who contributed to the “Cool Things” bulletin board last month. It has been awesome to see what our students are proud of. Feel free to continue to add to the board (I still have candy to exchange!). Be sure to check out the board, located in the DS 3 hallway if you haven’t yet!
Speaking of “thanks”… it is nearly Thanksgiving break! Here at the Biology Department we are thankful for you, the students! Thank you for your hard work, your bright ideas, and the life that you give our spaces. Enjoy your break, you’ve earned it!
Do you have something you'd like featured in our newsletter? Please email me at amaxwell2@loyola.edu
Biology professor Dr Cassandra Holbert’s Hauber Fellows mentees presented their summer research at the 2025 Grand Seminar on October 29th. The four students, Jamie Cashour, Lauren Imasa, Michael Mosely and Yuri Singh, attended a meet-and-greet with keynote speaker Dr. Kim Cobb prior to the Grand Seminar. Following the meet-and-greet the students participated in a poster session where they shared their work with Dr. Cobb as well as faculty, staff, and fellow students. President Terry Sawyer and the Provost Cheryl Moore-Thomas were also in attendance.
Jamie Cashour: The impact of polyamine depletion on macrophage polarization and phagocytic ability
Michael Moseley: Differentiation and cytokine production of polyamine depleted CD4+ T cells
Lauren Imasa: Determining the effects of polyamine depletion on cytokine production in the ovarian tumor microenvironment
Yuri Singh: Potential Disruption of cytokine production in polyamine-induced CD4+ T cell lineages
Great Turnout for Biohealth Career Panel
Nearly 60 students gathered in the 4th Floor Programming Room on October 21st for the Biohealth Career Panel. Hosted jointly by The Rizzo Career Center and Biohealth Director Dr. Michael Tangrea, the panel discussion allowed students to learn from and network with biohealth professionals. The panelists in attendance were:
Leslie Crotty - EVP - Neu-Ion
Nicole Salen, MS - Clinical Research Associate - IQVIA - AstraZeneca
Agnes Kibirige, MBA - AI & Life Sciences
Brian Ceribelli - Medical Device Sales
Daozhan Yu, PhD - CEO AAVnerGene Inc.
Look out for more Biohealth and Biology events in the spring semester!
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Cancer Research Opportunity Summer 2026
We invite the best students to apply for our NIH/NCI-funded (5 R25CA023944-41) Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program. The program offers a unique opportunity for pre-doctoral students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, and pharmacy to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. Students participate in basic or clinical oncology research, a core lecture series designed specifically for them, as well as research and clinical conferences. All participants make a PowerPoint presentation on their research project on our core lecture series. They also submit a project report written in the style of a journal in which their faculty mentor publishes.
A primary goal of the POE program is to encourage highly qualified students to pursue a career in cancer research, either as a clinical scientist or laboratory-based research scientist. Our St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences offers training in leading-edge scientific fields paired with unique mentoring in the St. Jude clinical experience. Highly motivated POE students may also consider applying to the St. Jude Graduate School upon completion of their undergraduate degree to further pursue their research and career interests.
POE medical students spend a minimum of 10 weeks in the program. The minimum tenure requirement for all others is 11 weeks. All POE applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.40 (on a 4.0 scale) in math and science (biology, chemistry, and physics) and at least a 3.40 overall. Program participants will receive a $600/week subsistence allowance. Fully furnished group housing will be provided at no cost for non-local participants.
All POE program applicants must already have research experience and be full time students at a US school at the time they apply. Applicants must be United States citizens, non-citizen nationals, or possess a visa permitting permanent residence in the United States (required by the funding agency). Participants must be at least 18 and have completed at least their sophomore year of college when they begin the program.
The POE home page contains links to the program application. The deadline for receipt of all 2026 application materials is February 1, 2026. Early application and submission of materials is highly recommended.
Additional Tips
Students should apply for several programs, since most programs have many more well-qualified applicants than they can place.
Many fine internship opportunities are listed below:
